The Physician Assistant (Community Care) reports to the Chief of Care in the Community for day-to-day activities and is responsible to the Assistant Chief of Primary Care under the Chief of Primary Care at the Salisbury Veterans Health Care System, Salisbury, NC

Duties

The Physician Assistant (Community Care) provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury. This includes systematic data gathering, assessment, clinical judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems. These services are performed through case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider. The Physician Assistant provides clinical patient care no less than 10 percent of the work week. The Nurse Practitioner will have intermittent contact with his/her supervising physician regarding patient care activities, and no patient care will be rendered by the Nurse Practitioner if no supervising physician is available. Duties include, but not limited to the following Serves in management of all community care consults and requests for additional services as directed. Demonstrates sound decision- making skills, both clinical and administrative, which bring credit to the profession and serve to enhance the distinctive and contributory role of physicians. Participates in multidisciplinary activities involving the treatment plan and discharge plans of patients admitted to the bed services as assigned. Facilitates ongoing communication between Care in the Community staff and leadership to evaluate data and review workload demands. Provides guidance to all staff assigned to Care in the Community Evaluates patients in his/her expertise in an outpatient setting, making appropriate referrals/consults, follow-ups, and treatment plans. Performs Initial and interim histories and physical examinations on assigned outpatients and/or inpatients, as well as daily physical assessments on patients within his/her expertise. Follows acute and chronic physical health problems in the outpatient setting by providing ongoing comprehensive monitoring of these issues and some follow-up on specialty symptoms. Provides medication management, orders routine laboratory, radiologic and diagnostic tests on assigned patients and provides medication adjustments for physical problems. Assists in the training of staff and other stake holders in the use of Care in the Community. Writes/dictates consults, general progress notes, post-operative progress notes, and discharge summaries, when appropriate. Performs joint injections, venipuncture, and arterial punctures to obtain tests on assigned patients as assigned Orders electrocardiograms, provides patient education and applies currently accepted preventive health care measures to patients and/or their families. Participates in various facility programs designed to enhance and improve the delivery of patient care services, such as Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) teams, as assigned by management. Fosters team-oriented environment among staff to work collaboratively with administrative staff and other clinical staff within the Care in the Community department. Revises work schedules and assignments on short notice to meet frequent, abrupt, and unpredictable changes in prescribed workloads and deadlines. Performs other related duties as assigned in functional statement. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (Alternate tour of duty may be required based on needs of agency. Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States Education. Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Additionally, candidates must meet one of the following : (1) Master's degree in any discipline; OR (2) Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA. Certification. Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) NOTE: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is no longer required for employment in VHA. Licensure .PAs must possess an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service Grade Determinations: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA. This practice may include, but is not limited to: 1. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care. 2. Ability to perform patient history and physical. 3. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient. 4. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession. Physician Assistant-II (PA-II) Experience and Education. The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by: Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency. OR A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-II: 1. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems. 2. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions. 3. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care. 4. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care. 5. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively. Physician Assistant-III (PA-III) Experience and Education. PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multi-disciplinary teams, and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs, and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by: Three years of successful practice as a PA. OR Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA. . OR A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-III: 1. Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care. 2. Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE). 3. Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials. 4. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel. 5. Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes. 6. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-8 Physician Assistant Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is PA-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA-I to PA-III. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: Kelvin Nelson
• Phone: 980-267-1913
• Email: [email protected]